“If you cut it off, those people are going to have to make over $100,000 just to pay their taxes.”

— Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Berkeley, complaining about a Senate panel’s initial plan to cap property tax relief for higher-income homeowners

SPREAD THIN

As it usually does this time of year, work is backing up in the Senate.

The daily agenda of the state’s deliberative body, also known as the Senate Calendar, is more than 60 pages long. That’s far larger than the House of Representatives’ — and senators haven’t even taken up the state budget yet.

So, there’s no telling just when the real important work will be dished up.

Boiled peanuts, that is.

The Senate’s General Committee, the group that handles all of the, uh, general stuff, passed a bill last week making the slimy legumes the “official state snack food.”

Given the weighty nature of the designation, and the fact that esteemed colleagues in the House already have passed the bill, it’s possible senators will act quickly.

No word on whether milk, the official state beverage, or tea, the official state hospitality beverage, should be made available when consuming the snack.

CROSSING OVER

Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, was a visitor to the House on Thursday, and his visit was lasting longer than he had hoped.

Martin was in the chamber to help introduce the state champion volleyball team from Pickens High School. But the House got caught up in a debate over a resolution dealing with old Revolutionary flags.

Martin was nonplused.

“I’ve been waiting 30 minutes for my volleyball team to be recognized, and I’m amazed again at the ways of the House — which are crazy,” Martin said.

The Buzz says, “Hmmm. A senator complaining that the House is taking too long? Pot, meet kettle.”

DOWN IN FRONT

We’ve buzzed before about House Speaker Bobby Harrell’s love of banging his gavel and keeping the House church-mouse quiet. But last week he proved that he is an equal opportunity shusher.

Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, was paying a visit to a few House members on Thursday as Harrell went into his 100th episode of declaring, “The House will please come to order. The House will please come to order.” (Someone should just give him that on tape so he can save his voice.)

Knotts, not being used to such admonitions, apparently didn’t heed the warning.

Harrell, R-Charleston, let Knotts know he was included.

“Senator Knotts,” Harrell said. “Senator Knotts, it’s a pleasure to have you on the floor today. The House will please come to order.”

Knotts came to order.

READING AHEAD

With budget week beginning Monday, House leaders had to clear the decks to make sure the massive state spending plan received top priority.

To do so, chief budget writer Dan Cooper, R-Anderson, chairman of Ways and Means, rolled off an impressive string of motion requests last week that set the bill for special order, guarantees it gets final approval more quickly and a whole bunch of other stuff The Buzz didn’t understand.

But we were terribly impressed that Cooper had so mastered the art of parliamentary procedure in such a short time.

Alas, our bubble was burst by Speaker Harrell.

When Cooper finished, Harrell said, “Thank you, Mr. Cooper,” and also thanked House counsel Mikell Harper and Clerk Charles Reid, “who actually wrote what you just read.”

GEARING UP

In the glory days of railroad travel, it was known as the POTUS train. It carried the president of the United States and his team.

While the big train isn’t steaming toward South Carolina, several folks who aim to be in charge of the nation are.

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will speak at the Republican Party’s chairman’s breakfast April 8. Later that day, U.S. Sen. George Allen of Virginia, a former governor, will address the GOP’s annual convention.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour — who has said he is not a candidate — will speak to state Republicans at the party’s Silver Elephant Dinner on April 7.

Not to be outdone, Democrats have lined up Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as keynote speaker at their Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on April 28.

First elected in 1998, Vilsack was Iowa’s first Democratic governor in 30 years.

• AT THE STATE HOUSE

Some ways to influence lawmakers this week:

MONDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 10:30 a.m. Budget debate begins.

TUESDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 9:30 a.m. Budget debate.

• THE SENATE convenes at noon. Special property tax subcommittee meets (2 p.m., 105 Gressette Building).

WEDNESDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 9:30 a.m. Budget debate.

• THE SENATE convenes at 2 p.m. A Banking and Insurance subcommittee discusses consumer identity theft (10 a.m., 406 Gressette Building).

THURSDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 9:30 a.m. Budget debate.

• • THE SENATE convenes at 11 a.m.

FRIDAY

• THE HOUSE convenes at 9:30 a.m., if needed. Budget debate.

MORE MEETINGS

• Go to http://www.scstatehouse.net/ for a list of meetings.

LAST WEEK

SEX OFFENDERS: State senators debated whether child molesters should face the death penalty if convicted a second time of sexually abusing a child. The bill also sets minimum prison sentences for sexual abuse, including at least 25 years with no possibility of parole for someone convicted of criminal sexual conduct with a child younger than 11.

PROPERTY TAXES: Property tax relief would be tied in part to homeowners’ income under a plan that received tentative approval in a Senate subcommittee. Senators agreed homeowners would pay no more than 5 percent of income in property taxes on owner-occupied homes.

FLAG LOWERING: A bill giving the governor the authority to lower State House flags is waiting for Gov. Mark Sanford’s signature. Sanford has said he will order the flags lowered to honor late civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks when he signs the bill. When Parks died in October, Sanford said state law didn’t allow him to lower the flags.

MARRIAGE: South Carolina no longer would recognize common-law marriages under legislation that received approval in a Senate subcommittee. Bill supporters say those unions cause difficulty distributing assets when a common-law spouse dies. The House and Senate versions of the legislation now head to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SCHOOL BUSES: One in 12 school buses would be replaced yearly under a House bill that now is on the Senate’s calendar. The Senate Education Committee approved the bill Wednesday. The House will debate a budget package this week that sets aside $26 million for new school buses and $27 million to cover parts and rising fuel costs.

BUDGET SURPLUS: Gov. Mark Sanford signed a bill earmarking $105 million from the state’s surplus revenue to cover a little-noticed deficit that’s been on the state’s books for years.

TO LEARN MORE

• YGA Today, midday news from inside the State House, is updated several times each legislative day at http://www.thestate.com/.

WHAT THEY MAKE

• Go to http://www.thestate.com/ for an updated, searchable list of salaries for state employees earning more than $50,000 a year.